Piercing myself in Guam

By Anonymous · Nov. 30, 2000

m sitting alone in my very small one room apartment on Guam with all my
belongings packed in boxes. Hopefully I will be allowed to leave here soon. I
detest the tropics. I wouldn't trust a piercer on this island (there are only
3) with a stick pin let alone a 12g needle.
I really want a piercing
though. So I'm thinking to myself "Hey, I've got all the supplies, and I've
done piercings before. Why not do it myself?" (Of course, I've only done basic
lobes @ 12g then helped stretch to 10g. That counts, right?)
My job
doesn't allow piercings of any kind  even ears are relegated to 2mm brushed
silver ball studs. Legally, I could be in trouble for my current piercings
(12g nipples) plus any new ones I might add. I have extensive ink, over 30
hours invested under the needle - and still working. I've only gotten
interested in piercings in the last 2 years or so.
To hell with it. I
pull out all the supplies, cracking open an already sealed box to get at
them. Autoclave the tools and jewelry, wash my workstation with green soap
and set everything up. I take a shower, getting good and clean  always feels
better when your whole body is clean. Now I'm ready.
I've wanted a
surface piercing for quite some time now. I did all the research via BME,
RAB, individual searches and people's personal experiences and satisfied
myself on the particulars. I chose to do a 12g CBR on my inner arm just below
the elbow. (I have a thing about the left side, so most of my mods are
oriented to the left. Bizarre, but there ya go.) Very difficult, I might add,
just because I was alone trying to use only one hand. (I did a scarification
on myself in '96 while living in Alaska. A few month ago I accented the
scarification with a geometric knot pattern in white. Both are on my left
wrist, done by myself one handed.)
I wore a glove on my right hand simply
to keep my skin oil and dirt away from the piercing area. Cleaning a good 6
inch square with alcohol and then iodine, I was ready to begin. So I clamped
my arm multiple times until I got it right. This was the most uncomfortable
part of the procedure. With a deep breath, I poked the tip of the needle into
my skin slowly. Very, very slowly. The tip of the needle went in with a small
pop which startled me. I tried to pull it back out, but it tugged, so I
pushed it slowly all the way through. The sensation was so subtle, I was
concentrating completely on the procedure and not the feel of it. This is
perhaps my one regret - I didn't get the chance to experience the needle like
I should have.
There was no pain, nothing like I expected on the tender
inner arm. My adrenaline was high and I shook afterwards, but the overall
feeling was glorious.
I had no problem putting the ring in, although I
used a 12g needle and same size ring. A little tight, but not a problem. The
bead did take some time and effort. After loosing one bead to the floor
somewhere, I waited an hour before trying again. I had some chocolate pudding
to calm my nerves, keep away the low that is adrenaline fallout. The shaking
stopped and I was ready to try again.
I ended up using my knees to
operate the expansion pliers and my right hand to place the bead. A little
too much trauma on the new piercing, but it should be alright.
I don't
have access to surface bars, but plan on having some shipped soon. This was a
spur of the moment decision to lift my spirits, which it has. I think the
piercing might be too shallow, so it may end up rejecting. All in all, I am
very pleased and will keep it as long as my body says it's ok, or I don't end
up @ mast.
25 Nov 2000 2330 Guam Time
Over an hour since completing
the entire procedure, including putting the bead on. I don't even feel it!
It's very red around the CBR in the exact shape of the clamps. I suppose I
had them pretty tight and had tried to get them on for a good 15 minutes
before final success. It looks really awesome! I think I will be very happy
with this particular piercing. I already love it. I had though to do an
identical pierce on my right arm, but I think it would be too difficult trying
to use my wrong hand to push the needle through. So I guess that will just
have to wait.
Next up: Crucifixion Piercings!

Details

submitted by: Anonymouson: 30 Nov. 2000in
Surface & Unusual Piercing

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Artist: I+didStudio: My+home+-+Barrigada%2C+Guam%2C+USALocation: +

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